Emily McWilliams

Emily undertakes work in all areas of Chambers’ core practice, specialising in commercial litigation, shipping and aviation. She regularly appears as sole and junior counsel in both the High Court and County Courts.

Emily has been involved in a broad range of shipping disputes, both in court and in arbitration. She is regularly instructed in claims arising under charterparties and bills of lading, including those concerning off-hire, laytime and demurrage, unsafe ports, unseaworthiness and cargo claims. Emily’s recent work includes:

Acting as junior counsel in a claim arising out of the detention of a vessel by the Liberian port authorities following a ship-to-ship transfer operation.

A case concerning the meaning of the words ‘liberty to apply’ in a letter of undertaking, and whether they enabled owners to apply to the court to require the defendant P&I Club to increase the amount of the security available (FSL-9 PTE Ltd v. Norwegian Hull Club [2016] 2 All. E.R. (Comm) 576 – led by John Kimbell QC).

Acting for the owners and operators of a wind farm in relation to a dispute arising out of a collision between a vessel and a turbine.

Appearing as junior counsel in a case concerning damage to a chemical tanker following over-pressurisation of the cargo tanks on loading, raising issues as to whether the port was unsafe (LMAA Arbitration, 2016).

Acting for owners in a Commercial Court claim for US$5m of unpaid hire.

Acting as sole counsel for managers in respect of claims made under 8 ship management agreements (LMAA Arbitrations, 2017).

Drafting submissions in relation to a preliminary issue to determine whether a claim for demurrage was time barred (LMAA Arbitration, 2017).

Acting for voyage charterers in a claim arising out of the contamination of a cargo of ShellSol (LMAA Arbitration, 2017).

Drafting Claim Submissions for arbitration proceedings in Singapore arising out of a demurrage dispute and charterers’ failure to provide cargo.

Emily has also experience of variety of shipbuilding disputes, as well as cases involving ship repair, and has:

Appeared as junior counsel for the successful yard in a two-week arbitration arising out of the buyer’s wrongful failure to pay sums due under a contract for the construction of a luxury motor yacht (purportedly as a result of delays in its construction).

Acted for a boatyard in a claim in respect of its unpaid invoices for repair, maintenance and refurbishment work on a vessel, raising issues of delay, quality of workmanship, and the vessel’s fitness for purpose.

Acted as junior counsel in a case raising issues as to the appropriate measure and quantum of damages where a luxury motor yacht suffered a major engine failure (The ‘IL SOLE’ [2014] EWHC 2711 (Comm)).

Emily has acted in a wide range of professional negligence claims, including in claims against marine surveyors, solicitors and commercial property agents. Emily’s work has included:

Acting for a boatyard in a claim for allegedly negligent refurbishment work on a barge, which raised issues as to the standard to which the structural work on the vessel had to adhere.

Advising as to a prospective claim against a marine surveyor, relating to a pre-purchase survey of a vessel which suffered serious engine problems shortly after the sale completed.

Acting as junior counsel in a claim against solicitors instructed by the purchaser of a super yacht in relation to their failure to secure a personal guarantee (The ‘IL SOLE’ [2014] EWHC 2711 (Comm)).

Appearing as junior counsel both at first instance and in the Court of Appeal in a claim against commercial property agents for negligence and breach of fiduciary duty in relation to the sale of a cattle market. The case raised questions as to vicarious liability of co-partners and s.10 of the Partnership Act (Northampton Regional Livestock Centre Co Ltd v Cowling [2015] EWCA Civ 651).

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